Brain-in-a-book (what a relief!)

One of the things on my list for today, believe it or not, is to write a little bit for this blog.

I've been bustling around this week working on getting the school room tidied up for the upcoming school year. I also finally figured out how to get some planning done, turns out I really just needed a format.

I found it!

I tried so many ideas for planning my "soft" schedule (meaning it's not rigid) and at last I came up with this binder:

I am all about the binder this year. Each boy has one that will hold any notebooking pages or loose paper for each subject; Language Arts, Geography, History, Art, Latin, Science...you get the idea. I'm going to add a section for them to track all the books they've read. What a good feeling to look back over the titles you've worked through! They also have a tab for tests and scores. Keeping the important things!

I have several binders for myself; one for tutoring the Apprentice Class (this is a seperate lesson plan), one for important papers (all the love notes I get from the boys and can't bear to part with), one for my household paperwork, and one for school at home.

This school-at-home notebook is the one that calms my storming brain. (The window and the birdies beyond help too)

I have three sections in this notebook:

• Calendar (to mark what days we do school, holidays to remember)
• Weekly Lesson Plans
• Curriculum we use, books we read

The weekly lesson plan was the biggest for me. I need a calendar where I can loosely write down what we're studying with Classical Conversations so I can coordinate our home studies. I need a place to set goals with Math and reading. I need a calendar in which I can write up three separate plans for math, language arts and reading, AND coordinate our plans for history, science, latin, geography and reading. I needed a place to loosely list ideas for nature studies so that I can choose it, or not, depending what we stumble upon outside.

I'm really pleased with how it's all falling into place....which was the big problem. I couldn't think clearly for days because I had all these ideas bouncing around in my head, no where for them to fall.

At any rate, sometime I'll photo the school room but for now it's just cleaned out. Phew!

Going to spend the remainder of the week playing and filling out pages in my new favorite book. Next week pressing on to wrap up around-the-house-projects (namely a half-painted bedroom) and the following work I'll plan for tutoring.

Did I tell you what a relief it is to cruise through all my favorite homeschooling-family blogs & see that I'm not the only one who is rearranging almost everything right now? Truth is I'd love to paint the school room before class starts too, but let's not be silly now! It really does help to see all the photos of everyone else's chaos....this is our busy time of year, isn't it?

Have a wonderful day, and soon I'll post some photos of the mess....just have to zoom out. ;)

Gifts That Keep Giving- Part 2

"There's no great loss without some small gain." -Pa Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)

Piled up on my bed in jammies, we did it. The boys and I finished Little House on the Prairie tonight.

I am convinced that I will never regret all the reading that the boys and I do together. Boys snuggled up to me, twirling my hair, playing with a pillow...doing nothing. Just listening and waiting for the next sketch in the book.

--------

this is a favorite photo of my Mom In Law, reading in her pool

Joey had a disappointment today. For a nine year old, a big disappointment. We were just heading up to read and he really wanted to tell me about it, but I asked him to wait. Listen to the book and then he and I could talk about it. (Sometimes this boy needs to simmer a little so he can use his words well. Um, so do I. ) So we snuggled up on the bed, he pulled a blanket over his head in grief and I read the final two chapters of our book.

Joe, always a book in hand, on a Canyon hike

I tucked Eli in bed, when I went to the kitchen Joe was waiting for me, "Cup of Tea, please Mom?" We chose our tea and put the water on to boil. Joe looked square at me. "There's no great loss without some small gain." he said. Then he rattled on the bleak gain he saw that he pulled from his loss.

Thank you, Pa Ingalls. Because it sounds better coming from you.

Joe and I sat down and discussed disappointment. We talked about the idea that sometimes the things that we want aren't the best things for us. Sometimes we just don't get what we want and it's just plain disappointing. It was a wonderful opening for good discussion.

Eli & Waldo: quality time

From the coziness, quiet and stillness of reading together to the ideas and discussions that it brings, reading to your kids is a gift that keeps on giving.

A Few of Our Favorite Books:

For the Younger Crowd:

Curious George by H.A. Rey

Little Critter by Mercer Mayer (and all others by Mercer Mayer)

The Cozy Book by Mary Ann Hoberman

I Can't Said the Ant by Polly Cameron

The Tale of Peter Rabbit series by Beatrix Potter

For the Bigger Ones:

The Magic School Bus books

The Magic Tree House books

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books

Encyclopedia Brown books

The Story of the World books

All Books by Holling C. Holling

The Litte House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, of course

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Oh, I have more but it's getting late. Perhaps I'll return with other favorites. :)

What are your favorite read alouds?

The Echo of Summer

Sometimes school is just huge, tangled pile.

When you think of school, say elementary school, do you think of neat rows of desks, kids filing down the hall in order, pencils with the names of their owners printed neatly on, and a tidy little box of crayons smelling like the first day of school? I might say the teachers' glimpse would say hers is a day that is a pile, as well.

But let me say it again. Somedays school, it's just a fantastic tangled pile of kids, apple slices, books, paper, frustration, pencils without erasers, explantations, noise & numbers. It's not neat. Hardly ever, ever does our lesson go according to plan when the phone rings three times in the middle of a book and paper cuts and strewn out bandaids sit in a puddle on the floor next to the table and little boys stand on their heads because that's what little boys like to do during math.

Meanwhile the sun is screaming in the windows and the middle one hears it beckoning the most loudly and pleads to go out and discover something that waits and calls to him over even the school. So after 20 more "please put all four on the floor, son" and 12 times of practicing my lamaze that never came in too handy until today I say;

"Okay" and I scoop up the books in a big pile and grab my Handbook of Nature Study, a towel, a camera. Some water and sunscreen and a long, long leash for my doggie and I. I slip on my salt water sandals because they work in the river water too.

We drive to the river bank and kick off shoes and run full force down, down to the water where the river has been waiting. The boys run and kick and push their whole bodies down into the water.
The water washes away all the silliness & antsy-ness that comes from too much recirculated air. We spy a snake and capture him for an attempt at identification. The boys choose their favorite rock and then leave it right where they found it, or toss it as far as they can to be swept downstream. I open that big fat book and read about garter snakes and water snakes. The boys dig holes and pile rocks while we determine that this snake is a water loving garter snake. The river, oh it's cool on my feet and ankles and I wish I could stay all day.

But there is still work to be done at home. Lunch break, for little boys who must complete their job of school work because this is their job while they are young. So now it's back to the table and books and end-of-summer-sighs. Back to the pile.

But we will keep our ears open wide for the call of the river again....

School Scheduling & Reading Aloud

As much as I try to schedule out my days, weeks and years for school I usually work pretty loosely with what I've planned. I am, by nature a bit spontaneous and work best when I can comfortably make changes that keep school interesting.

So most days the plan is scratched or dented. Some days we focus more on math and do less reading. Some days math all comes out in play and science I just let them practice math without touching their normal curricula. Lately I'm pulling out other books &

workbooks so that we can keep it interesting for this last stretch. Some days we just go on a hike instead of paper school, or head out for a field trip.

It's become pretty standard that every few months our schooldays shift drastically. Whether I'm working with all three boys together or individually, whether I'm starting school at 9 a.m. and pushing through until it's done or starting school when I get a few things done and working through a subject then taking recess. I make changes to keep school interesting to myself and the boys, to work best with our ever changing family-life.

Going into this school year, I'd planned to follow the public school year as we have in years past. School starts in September, ends in early June. But after Spring break I realized that I really, really love the structure that even a little school does for our family.

But "year round" just ain't going to cut it around here. My boys are totally put out with the idea that they'd be doing school while they're public school friends are at home, playing the summer away. So I've come up with some sort of a compromise. We're going to take a summer break, I've just shortened it. We'll run school through most of June to make up for days of Spring that we couldn't stand to be inside for paper school & sick days. Then in August when the boredom sets in we'll start up again bit by bit.

Of course we have camping trips and a vacation planned, and that time will be off. I think we'll take off nearly two months of play time. When we're not camping or off playing I hope to continue reading aloud to the kids. I will also be buying a cursive handwriting curriculum for the boys to try out. I'm hearing more and more about teachers that are starting with cursive rather than printing because the flow of the letters is easier to start with. Now, I've heard opposing views on this, but I'll give it a shot. With 4, 6 & 8 year old boys trying can't hurt.
Maybe they can work on this while I read to them sometimes.

This brings up another good topic. How on earth does one read aloud to three wiggly-pants-different-aged little boys.

Reading Aloud To My Boys

Well, it's not as romantic as it may sound. Sometimes I read while the boys are eating. This of course, keeps them seated & satisfied, but doesn't last that long. Mostly I read to them in the living room where we all can get comfy. Sometimes I have a boy or two next to me, but mostly they're posted in different spots around the room, one drawing at the kitchen table, two on the floor building with legos or blocks. This keeps their little hands busy while I read and allows them to imagine what they will of the story we're reading. Maybe my favorite way to read to the boys is up on our bed. The boys will pick out story books to flip through while I read, or I give them beeswax to work their little fingers while they listen. It's so cozy that way.

It's taken time and practice for me to be able to read to the boys, with them all busy and quiet. They still interrupt to ask me questions about the story, but that's okay. I'm oftentimes reading over their heads a bit (especially little Eli) so their understanding needs to be clarified.

So tell me about you....will you take a summer break? Year round school? And what are your favorite stories to read and of reading with your family?

COMMENTS WORTH READING:

One summer we took a complete academic break - but our walls of routine fell as well. We suffered physically, mentally and spiritually. Then, in the fall, I suffered along with my oldest son, who had to re-learn his entire math knowledge base. The 1-2 months it took to get us back on track did not seem to be worth it - to be completely learning free in the summer.
We will continue our normal routine this summer, Handbook of Nature Study, Journal Sketches, and a page or so of math every other day. I will not go out of my way to assign academic work, but I will keep our daily routine the same. :)
Angie, over at Petra School

Homeschool Reads

So I came across a little forum over at Heart of the Matter asking "What homeschooling books do you recommend when you're talking to friends?" I jotted these titles down for my own reference, but thought I'd share them with you in case you're looking for a good Spring read.

Also, amongst the many books Ralph & I bought at a recent marriage retreat. It has seriously changed my perspective on Christian parenting....for the better.

And I'm just in chapter 2.

Reminders of thinking about just what we're aiming for in raising our kids.

Reminders of being gracious with your kiddos, not lenient or legalistic.

Reminders to seek God for Wisdom when parenting your kiddos, rather than parenting books or fads...or blogs.

I highly recommend this book, for all parents.

..and now for the long list from Heart of the Matter;

Homeschooling: The Right Choice by Christopher Klicka

When you Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling by R.C. Sproul Jr.

Family Matter: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson

Basic Steps to Successful Homeschooling by Vicki A. Brady

Whole Hearted Education by Clay & Sally Clarkson

A Mom Just Like You by Vickie Farris

You CAN Teach Your Child Successfully by Dr. Ruth Beechick

Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Terri Maxwell

A Mom Just Like You

One Hundred and One Devotions for Homeschool Moms by Jackie Wellwood

Homeschooling, a Patchwork of Days

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Better Late Than Early by Raymond Moore

Educating a Wholehearted Child by Sally Clarkson

Easy Homeschooling Techinques by Lorraine Curry

Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto

The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

The Joyful Homschooler by Mary Hood

The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by Raymond & Dorothy Moore

Home Sweet Homeschool by Sue Maakestad

A search for literature at it's finest

Basketball games were held Saturday mornings at the Middle School down the street. I spent 30-hours at that school this Winter. Walking the halls, I was sad to see empty, empty bulletin boards all along the walls of the Art hall, but for a few nutrition posters. A lost opportunity to display the talent and creativity of the students.

But I was just plain horrified to walk past the large windows that looked down into the student library. I looked down into the large room with scattered chairs, long tables that held computers for the students to use. I saw three low bookcases that held encyclopedia-type books, maybe one or two hundred books. I know I couldn't see the entire room, but I saw most of the room. A few hundred books, at most. What kind of library are my taxes paying for? If only I could have a say about where my money is going....

I'm so sad about the sneaky replacement of books and book-reading. Technology is undeniably part of our world, as parents we are responsible for keeping balance in the homes by competing with technology. Not only that, but what kids are reading these days just isn't quality literature, not to mention content. Twaddle. I hate even walking into chain bookstores. In order to get to the kid-book section, we must wade through the teen books covered in photos of girls in towels and vampirish-boys...books seducing the unknowing teens of the world. Twaddle.

Some schools are doing away with homework. I was thrilled when I saw this, I think it's just silly for kids to go to school for 6+ hours a day, then go home to do 2 more hours of work that takes play time & family time from them, and peace out of their relationships at home. But as I read on, I was so sad to see that though the motives were good (more family time) the replacement work recommended is pointless and empty.

“It doesn’t matter what your child reads as long as they get a balance of reading to you, reading with you and reading for themselves. Books, magazines, comics, newspapers, model aeroplane instructions, the back of the Weet-Bix packet … whatever, it doesn’t matter. As long as your child is doing something that they are interested in, they will read it, enjoy it and be all the happier and better off for it.”

I looked at the back of my cereal boxes this morning...the boxes that I've been hiding from my kids because they advertise those vampire-teen-in-towel movies that are out now. Lovely reading material.

This isn't to say I don't let my kids cruise through age-appropriate magazines and comics. The boys love Snoopy. Higlights and National Geo for kids will be subscribed to our house until the kids all grow out of them. I love to see my kids reading fun materials. But these are not a replacement for good solid literature.

Looking back these trends are nothing new. I just see the need to teach and protect and guide my kids with the eyes of a new-ish parent that is passionate about my kids getting excellent literature in their lives and learning more about the in's and out's of Harry Potter.

What we're reading...

The family is reading.....This has been a favorite book for the boys. They beg me for just one more chapter. I read two of the books and am ready for a change, we're on to Little House next.


I'm reading....



I'm still picking through this book, trying to get a grasp of what I can apply to our little family. I like the concept of helping my kids to have self confidence about the decisions they're making now so that as they grow older they'll trust our advice (maybe sometimes?) and better yet, be able to listen to the instincts they have.


I just picked this up today. It was highly recommended by a dear friend, Susie. I'm anxious to read it but determined to finish Edgar Sawtelle's story first.


I love novels about people. This story is somewhat of a tragedy so far, but it's drawn me in and I look forward to seeing the outcome.


Joey's reading....



These books are awesome for world history and captivate him. He reads and re-reads the books.


A new discovery for Joey, and I have read a few these books are clean and most certainly have some great little mysteries. Each chapter has a story full of clues to the mystery at hand. Flip to the end of the book to learn just how Encyclopedia solves the problem.

Book Love

For School and Fun...

First Language Lessons by Jessie Wise
I'm using this for 1st and 2nd Grade Language Arts.

Story of The World by Susan Wise Bauer
We use Vol 1-4 in correlation to our Classical Conversation Memory Work.


Alpha Phonics by Samuel L. Blumenfeld
A book to use for beginner readers.


Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy
A fun book for gardening fun with little ones.

Saxon Math
We're using Saxon 1 & 5/4

Bob Books
for learning to read to early readers,
it's great to hear a five year old to say "I read a whole book!"

Wild things: the art of nurturing boys

I've been picking my way through this book long enough that I had to return it to the library and just buy it. We will read, and then put it on the shelf for reference.

Wild Things is a book about nurturing boys. This book addresses ages & stages of boys; how to best communicate with them, what they need most from their parents and teachers in those phases. There is a section on how the minds of boys work, how they can be most successful in school and more. The end of the book is a section of "hot topics" and ideas of how to address them. It's a great book of ideas on just what is going through the minds of these little (or big) guys and how we can best nurture them into manhood.

This book is a great combination of experience, humor stories and encouragment for those in charge of raising Wild Things.

Taken from the back of the book;

BORN TO BE... WILD!

A boy's endless imagination, hunger for adventure, and passionate spirit are matched only by his deep desire to be affirmed, esteemed and loved.

Yet over the past few decades, our culture has adopted a model of parenting and educating children that doesn't affirm, celebrate, or embrace a boy's hunger, passion, or wildness but rather seeks to tame it. As a result, many parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors find themselves frustrated, confused, and wearied by boys' behavior.

The truth is, boys don't need to be tamed--they need to be understood, loved, challenged, and encouraged.

Wild Things helps parents, teachers, mentors, and others understand and explore the hearts, minds, and ways of boys and the vital role that parents and caregivers play on their journey to manhood.

For additional information, visit http://www.stephenanddavid.com/home.html.

Seeds Family Worship

I am just loving what the boys (and I) are learning with Seeds Family Worship this year. A friend in town recommended this music, not just for the kids but the whole family. We all love it. Thanks Julie! I love this stuff!

Seeds is a big part of our Bible study this year. If there is one thing I'm learning through Classical Conversations, it's that kids are amazing when it comes to memory work. (More about that later.)

My hearts' desire is to give my sweet boys the gift of God's Word in their minds and hearts. I know that their understanding of scripture is simple and childlike now, but I know God will use His word in their lives now and for the rest of their lives. For as they sing, I am encouraged and inspired:

Philippians 4:6&7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I can't say enough about this fun and (not annoying) scripture music. I can't say enough about the importance of hiding God's Word in these little hearts. I have heard many mothers lament that it can be tough to motivate your teen to learn scripture, that it's so important to teach them while they're young. I hope you'll check it out yourself...and surprise, each disc comes with a free copy to share with a friend! Too fun. Check it out here:

Kumon at Costco!!

I have long-loved Kumons workbooks for my younger students. I was so excited to find them at Costco in a three pack for just $13. I think I paid $8 or $9 at Barnes and Noble for one, so I was thrilled. I think I might just go back.

One of the books we got was all about scissor-skills. There is fun work in there for Nate and Eli both.

Nate's finished product.

Eli got a bit frustrated with the project, so I was happy to cut the stiff paper into strips for him to snip. He had a lovely time and I know this will help him get farther with confidence and skill for next time. I highly recommend...

If you take a boy to the library....

If you take a boy to the library, he'll want to check out a book.
When he chooses his book, it just be his favorite thrice-checked-out cookbook.

After reading his favorite book for the fourteenth time, he'll want to make those Boosk Brownies.

When he's baking those brownies don't be surprised when he starts making coughing and gagging sounds. You'll ask, "Are you okay?" He'll answer, "Now I understand what you meant when you said that Unsweetened Cocoa isn't sweet." Cough-Cough.
When he's mixing the flour he'll decide he needs to wear your apron.
When the apron is on he'll ask for a taste of brown sugar.

When the sugar is in he'll need to mix up those brownies.
When the brownies are mixed he'll be adding some chocolate chips.

When the chips are added, the brownies will be ready for the oven.
When the brownies are baked, that little boy will be so proud, and mysteriously hungry- as will his brothers.

books, laughter and memories

One of my favorite moments in time here lately is the sound of my boys' laughter, belly laughs that lead to snorts which of course, lead to more laughter.

Tonight I read "A Hole is to Dig" and "Open House for Butterflies" tonight, an old favorite of mine, for sure. The boys giggled all the way through at the words and illustrations... a worthy read.

I love laugher.
Awhile back I noticed the trend of mama's complaining about their little ones..."all they do is fight!" In summertime, I suppose that observation is even more frequent. I have heard that complaint again and again, and I got tired of hearing it.

I decided to start 'forgetting' the arugments (of course they argue! They're together all day long!) and paying close attention to when they play well together. And they do, oh they do.

Nate and Eli love to play together, games or swinging around in the backyard.

Eli and Joe love to play together, they have legos in common. They work together quietly. Occasionally I hear Joe teaching Eli, "B says buh."

Nate and Joe love to wrestle, they love to read together...
they all love to read together,
they all love to draw together,
to laugh,
to wrestle,
to swim,
to run and run and run....

I am a blessed woman.

*This post is brought to you by the inspiration of a post over at The Skyteahouse, String of Stories.

Notebooking Pages Sale!!

For all of my home schooling friends, preschool and up, I found a great sale on these notebooking pages. I learned about it from Harmony Art Mom, Barb. Thanks for the great find!

Notebooking is a great way to work on penmanship, art and spelling/grammar while recording findings in Bible, Nature Studies, History, Geography and more. There are also simple copywork pages for little ones that are fresh and entertaining.

This is a great sale, it lasts just a few days so check it out. The prices are more than reasonable. If you order August 3-7 you're eligible to win a prize AND for $50 worth free E-books for schooling things.